My clearing & gap year dilemma - I think I am too snobby!

Plenty of Russell group unis in clearing

1) Generally Science Subjects. Economics too.

2) Reading, Glasgow, Southampton, Nottingham, obviously many others

Higher tier ones : UCL, LSE, Warwick, Durham

So I, like many others missed my university offers. I used to be someone who aspired to go to Cambridge with my 8a*s from GCSE, then when the AS results came in which were generally very strong for maths but weaker for my other subjects I then decided upon Warwick/Bath for Maths. I was never 100% behind maths as I am very into politics, history and economics too but I felt that because I had previously done very well in it I might as well go ahead with it.

I missed my offers : badly. When my results came in it was an awful sting and I was very emotional for the early part of the day. I got AABC, in Maths, History, FMaths and Chemistry. 4 UMS away from an a* in single maths, and my history coursework which had drained my soul for most of the year took away an a* in history. For Further Maths the papers for me were awful despite me doing very well in class. Chemistry I had got a C in AS so I knew it would be a struggle but I honestly expected to do better than I did - although there were serious issues with the Chemistry department throughout the year. I had been predicted A*A*AB in maths, fmaths, history and Chemistry. I was mortified when the results came. I was on course to achieve these grades but at the last hurdle I let myself down.

Now to clear or not to clear? That is the question. I looked at some courses but I was an emotional wreck and didn't phone any unis - but most of the courses I didn't even consider. For me I want to get a degree in a subject that won't be made redundant in 10 years time as many experts are now saying in say history and english; but also one at a prestigious uni (high in the league tables). Am I being too snobby when I say I don't want to go to unis that are 'mid-tier/low-tier' or in areas I don't like? Furthermore should I take a gap year and reapply next year?

I would be very interested in all your thoughts

If you are that desperate to go to a top uni I would take a gap year, resit and reapply.

With AAB though I'm sure there's some fairly high up unis if you are desperate to go this year. Russell Group anyway.

Is there a substantial difference though between, say Maths at Warwick vs Maths at Birmingham? I am leaning towards a gap year atm but if possible I would want to clear with a uni/course I am 100% behind - which in my honest opinion I am not sure myself!

However many of them have crappy subject courses or have entry requirements higher than my grades :/

So I, like many others missed my university offers. I used to be someone who aspired to go to Cambridge with my 8a*s from GCSE, then when the AS results came in which were generally very strong for maths but weaker for my other subjects I then decided upon Warwick/Bath for Maths. I was never 100% behind maths as I am very into politics, history and economics too but I felt that because I had previously done very well in it I might as well go ahead with it.

I missed my offers : badly. When my results came in it was an awful sting and I was very emotional for the early part of the day. I got AABC, in Maths, History, FMaths and Chemistry. 4 UMS away from an a* in single maths, and my history coursework which had drained my soul for most of the year took away an a* in history. For Further Maths the papers for me were awful despite me doing very well in class. Chemistry I had got a C in AS so I knew it would be a struggle but I honestly expected to do better than I did - although there were serious issues with the Chemistry department throughout the year. I had been predicted A*A*AB in maths, fmaths, history and Chemistry. I was mortified when the results came. I was on course to achieve these grades but at the last hurdle I let myself down.

Now to clear or not to clear? That is the question. I looked at some courses but I was an emotional wreck and didn't phone any unis - but most of the courses I didn't even consider. For me I want to get a degree in a subject that won't be made redundant in 10 years time as many experts are now saying in say history and english; but also one at a prestigious uni (high in the league tables). Am I being too snobby when I say I don't want to go to unis that are 'mid-tier/low-tier' or in areas I don't like? Furthermore should I take a gap year and reapply next year?

I would be very interested in all your thoughts

Do you think I should be desperate to go to a top uni ? Should I settle for another lower tier one?

Do you think if I took a gap year, some unis will reject me on the basis that this would be my 3rd year of A levels?

My advice to you would be not to settle, you won't be happy at the university and you'll wish you'd gone somewhere else. Take this year out and resit some modules, see if you can get an internship somewhere and get a job. Work your way up to assistant manager or something like that. Then reapply next year to a high end university for the course you would likE. A year in the grand scheme of things won't make a difference

You cna be as snobby as you like its your life and no one else cares.

If you want to go to particular universities, then simply take a gap, meet the grades and reapply.

Waste of money going to a Uni you think is is beneath you as you wont enjoy it and people will notice, same as with subject area. You get one shot at Uni so go soemwhere you think is worthy of you and you will enjoy. Ante up with the grades and you are all sorted.

I am just worried that I will be taking a year 'off' unnecessarily that most other people in my year will be at university for. I feel like I am being too harsh on other unis besides the standard top ones. I understand what you are saying though regarding work experience.

Unless you're hoping to go to literally the top 5 unis, there is not much difference between a uni that is ranked say, number 8, or number 30. The rankings tables vary hugely and there are big problems in how they are compiled.

I would pick a university with a good department for the subject you want to do (find out if it appears in an online search for example), russell group might be better for prestige, and then work hard. You'll have strong chances at a good career. I currently work at Aston University, not a top uni but a very good one nonetheless, many of their current graduates are going on to great schemes at huge companies.

As for some unis rejecting you if you do resits, I really don't know, I'm not sure how that works as I haven't been through it.